What's her secret? Original supermodel Helena Christensen, 48, flaunts her age-defying beauty in a showstopping golden gown as she makes 'emotional' return to Versace

Published: 20:07 GMT, 22 September 2017 | Updated: 02:21 GMT, 23 September 2017

e-mail

202

View
comments

She shot to fame as one of the elite original supermodels in the Nineties.

And three decades later, Helena Christensen cemented her catwalk queen status as she flaunted her age-defying beauty at the Versace SS18 show during Milan Fashion Week.

The 48-year-old Danish beauty looked showstopping in a golden gown as she made her 'emotional' return to the Italian fashion house's runway in tribute to the late Gianni Versace.

Scroll down for video

Icon: Helena Christensen (right) cemented her catwalk queen status as she flaunted her age-defying beauty at the Versace SS18 show during Milan Fashion Week

The brunette beauty appeared not to have aged at all as she posed sultrily in her shimmering gown, flashing her toned legs thanks to the racy thigh-split.

The garment hailed back to the Nineties with a plunging cowl neckline and sexy black straps.

Posing on the far right for the showstopping finale, Helena certainly held her own alongside original 'supers' Claudia Schiffer, 47, Naomi Campbell, 47, Carla Bruni, 49, and Cindy Crawford, 51.

The iconic fashion moment, soundtracked by George Michael's Freedom, was a poignant tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of Gianni Versace's brother.

How does she do it? The brunette beauty appeared not to have aged at all since her Nineties supermodel heyday. Pictured in the Versace Auutmn/Winter show in 1994

Reuniting: The models walked designer Donatella Versace down the runway as they closed the show on Friday

Looking incredible: The brunette beauty appeared not to have aged at all as she posed sultrily in her shimmering gown, flashing her toned legs thanks to the racy thigh-split

Here come the golden girls: (From left) Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen returned to the catwalk for Versace women's Spring/Summer 2018 fashion collection on Thursday

Walk on: Donatella Versace led out the models in formation on Friday night, as they brought the show to a spectacular climax

It was a re-enactment of one of Gianni's history-making moments from 1991, when four supermodels walked arm in arm with him on the runway.

And Helena paid ode to the 'much missed' late designer on Instagram, as she admitted her Versace return was 'very emotional'.

Sharing a snap of the group together, she wrote: 'A very emotional moment, walking down the runway with my girls honoring the wonderful and much missed Gianni Versace with @donnatelaofficial who created the most incredible collection.'

Her fellow models soon followed suit, with Naomi adding: 'Words cannot describe this moment# congratulations !! @donatella_versace Amazing show !!!

Iconic model: She shot to fame as one of the elite original supermodels in the Nineties

Versace fan: The model has been a favourite of the Versace shows, pictured in a colourful catsuit and iconic safety pin dress in the Nineties

Style chameleon: Helena, who won the Miss Universe Denmark crown in 1986, later became a Victoria's Secret Angel

'Thank you for bringing us all together again #I LOVE YOU #longliveGianniVersace.'

And Cindy posted: 'I can't even describe the feelings I had today. Thank you @Donatella_Versace for allowing us to pay tribute to Gianni and #Versace. Such a moment!'

Speaking about the Gianni tribute, Donatella - who took over from her brother after his death, said that she sees the 20th anniversary as a positive moment.

'Today I am not sad. I am happy that after 20 years I can finally do this with a smile on my face,' she said in a conference before the show.

Stratospheric success: Christensen has appeared on endless magazine covers - including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and W magazine

Daring to bare: The catwalk queen often flaunted her enviably lithe physique in semi-sheer numbers. Pictured walking a Chloe show in the Nineties in Paris

Hair today, gone tomorrow: The model became known for keeping her look relevant with ever-changing hair colours - going from brunette to strawberry blonde. Pictured on the Versace runway

'They [the supers] have a green room each, but they are running in and out of each other's rooms all day. And because they walk the runway together they are arguing about who gets to go in the middle, just like the old days.'

She added that the pop-art references and scarf prints are an 'homage' to Gianni because 'Gianni was all about joy, and so full of life, and the prints really express that spirit.'

Helena may have made a catwalk return but her teenage son Mingus is carving out his own modelling career.

The proud mother,who shares Mingus with actor Norman Reedus, said it 'was awesome' to see her 16-year-old strut down the catwalk for Calvin Klein.

Tribute: The iconic fashion moment, soundtracked by George Michael's Freedom, was a poignant tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of Gianni Versace's brother

Fashion moment: The women sashayed back up the runway as guests whipped out their phones to capture the iconic reunion

Ode: It was a reenactment of one of Gianni's history-making moments from 1991, when four supermodels walked arm in arm with him on the runway

They're back: The models arrived on stage on a platform, before strutting down the catwalk

Much-loved: And Helena paid ode to the 'much missed' late designer on Instagram, as she admitted her Versace return was 'very emotional'

But the veteran model also confessed how 'bizarre' it was to watch her offspring make his first foray into the fashion world.

Helena, who actually shot the ad campaign for the Raf Simons designed collection, said watching the show 'was really intense' because of her personal connection to the models and the clothes.

'It was really funny. I was sitting there going, "Okay, this is so bizarre,"' the Danish darling told WWD.

The Midas touch: Looking incredible: The brunette beauty appeared not to have aged at all as she posed in her shimmering gown, flashing her toned legs thanks to the racy thigh-split

Going for gold: The garment hailed back to the Nineties with a plunging cowl neckline and sexy black straps

Quite the arrival: Helena switched her towering gold heels for a more comfortable sandal for the after-party

Budding beauty: Christensen injected a dose of colour with a purple flower tucked behind her ear

Making the CK show even more of a family affair, Christensen's nephew Oliver Sonne also hit the runway.

Christensen continued recounting her experience, '"I’m watching my own kid and my sister’s kid and they’re together in the show in those clothes walking up and down." It was awesome.'

The Norwegian-born Model and soon to be actress, Kat Hessen walked specially for Versace and for Alexander Wang in New York.

Kat will make her acting debut in the indie film 'The Iron Sisters' alongside actress Anna Newell by photographer and director Robert Lang.

Versace Veteran : Norwegian model Kat Hessen Walked the Versace in a bedazzled coral inspired top and matching shorts

Print power: Donatella Versace tapped into the Italian fashion house's archives to feature a key motif of the brand from the Nineties - the famous decadent scarf print

Pop art: Versace took sartorial inspiration from Andy Warhol's famous technicolour prints of Marilyn Monroe

Kitsch glamour: Other dresses were emblazoned with Vogue cover prints and famous faces

Fresh face! Meanwhile Helena's teenage son Mingus, 16, made his runway debut Thursday at New York Fashion Week

Overwhelmed with emotion! The proud mother, 48, said it 'was awesome' to see her son strut down the catwallk, but the veteran model also confessed how 'bizarre' it was to watch her offspring walk. Pictured with Mingus' father actor Norman Reedus